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Native Trail is clearly the one to beat in the Qipco 2000 Guineas – but for those who are feeling a little more adventurous Dubawi Legend should give them a run for their money.
The Charlie Appleby-trained Native Trail was in a different league to the rest at two, going through the season unbeaten and rounding off a perfect campaign in the Dewhurst Stakes.
We know he has trained on as Appleby chose to run him in the Craven Stakes earlier this month. While the trial has long been seen as the best of its type for Guineas horses, you do have to go back to 2004 and Haafhd to find the last horse to win both races.
It has worked well for Appleby, though, as he won it with Masar in 2018 and he went on to land the Derby having been third in the Guineas and he was also successful with Master Of The Seas last year – a horse beaten in a photo for the Guineas.
While Native Trail is rock solid, he does have a slight chink in his armour in that he usually comes off the bridle quite early before powering home, something which can be overcome in the small fields he has been running in but in a big field like this there is a chance he could get caught behind some inferior horses.
If that happens the one who could take advantage is Hugo Palmer's Dubawi Legend, who of all the horses Native Trail has met is probably the one who had him in most trouble in the Dewhurst.
James Doyle made a bold bid for home some way out and it was not until well inside the final furlong Native Trail reeled him in. If he takes as long to wind up again, the principals may get first run on him.
Palmer has won the Guineas before with Galileo Gold and is on record as saying he thinks this colt is better at the same stage – and while he disappointed at the Breeders' Cup, the trainer feels the experience made a real man of him.
Came From The Dark's last season was cut short by injury so Ed Walker will be keen to make up for lost time in the Betfair Palace House Stakes.
The grey was making real progress in the sprinting ranks, winning at Newbury and finishing second in this corresponding race before coming with a rare rattle to win a Sandown Group Three.
That is his style, so do not expect to see him on the premises before the dying throes, but this six-year-old gelding could be a big player in the division this season.
Richard Hannon's Razzle Dazzle disappointed on his last run at two, but can regain the winning thread in the Betfair Exchange Handicap.
Second to the useful Hafit on debut, he won second time out by over five lengths at Newmarket.
He appeared to have no excuses at Doncaster in Listed company when last seen and this drop in grade looks a wise move before tougher tests await.
If Richard Fahey's Umm Kulthum is fit enough after a long lay off she looks the class act in the Read Ryan Moore On Betting.Betfair British EBF Kilvington Stakes.
Smart at two when she won a Group Three and was beaten less than a length by Alcohol Free in the Cheveley Park Stakes, she proved she had trained on last year when she was third, beaten a length, in the Group Two Sandy Lane at Haydock.
Off the track since, Fahey will be hoping the Kodiac filly is one of his leading lights this season.
James Ferguson's First Folio could improve again this season. He won a valuable three-year-old sprint at York last summer that usually earmarks the winner for a big future.
He went up 8lb for that victory and but for a disappointing run on soft at Goodwood, suggested he could be a smart sprinter this term. He begins in the My Odds Boost On Betfair Handicap.
The Fitzdares Thirsk Hunt Cup can go the way of Tim Easterby's Cruyff Turn.
Most from this yard improve bundles for their first runs and this one had an outing last weekend to put him cherry-ripe for this.
If Primo Bacio is anywhere near her best she should outclass the opposition in the William Hill Conqueror Fillies' Stakes at Goodwood.
She only actually won a Listed race last term but was unlucky in a couple of Group Ones and her ability is not in doubt.
Swoon looks an interesting runner for Sir Michael Stoute in the Watch Chester on Sky Sports Racing Handicap at Doncaster, while Barnaviddaun can win the Burton Union Novices' Limited Handicap Chase at Uttoxeter for David Bridgwater.
SELECTIONS:
DONCASTER: 4.45 Farhh To Shy, 5.20 True Statesman, 6.00 Barley, 6.30 Commanche Falls, 7.05 Cotai Class, 7.35 Reverend Hubert, 8.05 Swoon.
GOODWOOD: 1.35 Notions, 2.10 Frantanck, 2.40 Primo Bacio, 3.16 Moktasaab, 3.46 Orin Swift, 4.20 Shamlaan, 4.55 Le Forban.
HEXHAM: 5.15 Johnson's Blue, 5.50 Uncle Henry, 6.20 Paricolor, 6.50 Fringill Dike, 7.20 Floating Rock, 7.50 For Three, 8.20 Torngat.
NEWMARKET: 1.15 Umm Kulthum, 1.50 First Folio, 2.25 Movin Time, 3.00 CAME FROM THE DARK (NAP), 3.40 Dubawi Legend, 4.15 Matchless, 4.50 Razzle Dazzle, 5.25 Anadora.
PUNCHESTOWN: 2.35 Neverushacon, 3.10 Plan Of Attack, 3.50 Epatante, 4.25 Recite A Prayer, 5.00 Vauban, 5.30 Camprond, 6.05 Spirit Of Legend, 6.35 Amir Kabir.
THIRSK: 1.00 Dante Star, 1.30 Prospect, 2.05 Cruyff Turn, 2.45 Saluti, 3.20 Wor Willie, 3.55 Gracelands Girl, 4.35 Under Fox.
UTTOXETER: 1.43 Heron Creek, 2.18 Robiola, 2.53 Barnaviddaun, 3.30 Ashington, 4.05 Some Day Soon, 4.39 Found On, 5.09 Mozzaro.
DOUBLE: Primo Bacio and Came From The Dark.
